Patrick Henry, Antifederalist. State
Patrick Henry was a represntative from Virginia, the largest and most populous state. He was the first and sixth governor and a member of the Virginia house of Burgesses. He was also a delegate to the Virginia Committee of Correspondence, Contiential Congess, and the Virginia Constitution Ratification Convention.
Background
Patrick was born to John and Sara Winston Henry, a middle class family, on May 29th, 1736 in Hanover County Vriginia. He recevied his education from his father, and went into business. His business eventually failed and went bankrupt, so he then became a lawyer. His first wife was Sarah Shelton, and his second was Dorothea Dandridge, for a combined number of 17 children. Patrick was a firey and outspoken man. He is well know for his "Give me liberty, or give me death" speech during the detested Stamp Act. He died on June 6th, 1799 at Red Hill Plantation, Virgina.
Constitutional Convention
Patrick wa selected to be a delegate, but turned down the offer. He said that he "Smelled a rat in Philedelphia tending toward the monarchy."
Ratifying Convention
Patrick was a member of Virginia's ratifying convention in 1788. He spoke out against the ratifacation of the Constitution. His vote was no. The final vote was 89 to 79. Virginia became the tenth state to ratify the Constitution.
Arguments
Patrick was a very strong Antifederalist, so he opposed ratification of the Constitution. He was afraid that the Constitution would destroy the states rightful powers. He wanted the strongest possible power for the state govenments, and the weakest for the federal government. It was thought that a strong centralized government would be too far removed from its citizens. Many feard it would become a monarchy. The president, if given too much power would turn into a tyranical king. The antifedaralists were in favor of a Bill of Rights, a list of fundamental freedoms. Many states had Bills of Rights in their own constitutions, so they wanted it in the country's constitution. The absence of a Bill of Rights is removing the true spirit of liberty. The Constitution also provided for a strong army, which was condidered be a threat to peace. Overall the Constitution was seen as a radical threat to liberty.
References
Thomas Jefferson, George Clintion, and Samuel Adams.
Works cited
"The American Revolution - (Patrick Henry)." The American Revolution - (Home). Web. 18 Sept. 2011. <http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/peopledetail.aspx?people=9>.
Dudley, William. The Creation of the Constitution: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 1995. Print.
Morris, Richard B., and Leonard Baskin. The Framing of the Federal Constitution. Washington, D.C.: Produced by the Division of Publications, National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 1986. Print.
"Patrick Henry (Fact Sheet) : The Colonial Williamsburg Official History Site." Colonial Williamsburg Official History Site. Web. 18 Sept. 2011. <http://www.history.org/almanack/people/bios/biohen2.cfm>.
"Patrick Henry." Ushistory.org. Web. 18 Sept. 2011. <http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/henry.htm>. Red Hill - Patrick Henry National Memorial. Web. 18 Sept. 2011. <http://www.redhill.org/biography.html>. TeachingAmericanHistory.org -- Free Seminars and Summer Institutes for Social Studies Teachers. Web. 18 Sept. 2011. <http://www.teachingamericanhistory.com/>.
State
Patrick Henry was a represntative from Virginia, the largest and most populous state. He was the first and sixth governor and a member of the Virginia house of Burgesses. He was also a delegate to the Virginia Committee of Correspondence, Contiential Congess, and the Virginia Constitution Ratification Convention.
Background
Patrick was born to John and Sara Winston Henry, a middle class family, on May 29th, 1736 in Hanover County Vriginia. He recevied his education from his father, and went into business. His business eventually failed and went bankrupt, so he then became a lawyer. His first wife was Sarah Shelton, and his second was Dorothea Dandridge, for a combined number of 17 children. Patrick was a firey and outspoken man. He is well know for his "Give me liberty, or give me death" speech during the detested Stamp Act. He died on June 6th, 1799 at Red Hill Plantation, Virgina.
Constitutional Convention
Patrick wa selected to be a delegate, but turned down the offer. He said that he "Smelled a rat in Philedelphia tending toward the monarchy."
Ratifying Convention
Patrick was a member of Virginia's ratifying convention in 1788. He spoke out against the ratifacation of the Constitution. His vote was no. The final vote was 89 to 79. Virginia became the tenth state to ratify the Constitution.
Arguments
Patrick was a very strong Antifederalist, so he opposed ratification of the Constitution. He was afraid that the Constitution would destroy the states rightful powers. He wanted the strongest possible power for the state govenments, and the weakest for the federal government. It was thought that a strong centralized government would be too far removed from its citizens. Many feard it would become a monarchy. The president, if given too much power would turn into a tyranical king. The antifedaralists were in favor of a Bill of Rights, a list of fundamental freedoms. Many states had Bills of Rights in their own constitutions, so they wanted it in the country's constitution. The absence of a Bill of Rights is removing the true spirit of liberty. The Constitution also provided for a strong army, which was condidered be a threat to peace. Overall the Constitution was seen as a radical threat to liberty.
References
Thomas Jefferson, George Clintion, and Samuel Adams.
Works cited
"The American Revolution - (Patrick Henry)." The American Revolution - (Home). Web. 18 Sept. 2011. <http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/peopledetail.aspx?people=9>.
Dudley, William. The Creation of the Constitution: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 1995. Print.
Morris, Richard B., and Leonard Baskin. The Framing of the Federal Constitution. Washington, D.C.: Produced by the Division of Publications, National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 1986. Print.
"Patrick Henry (Fact Sheet) : The Colonial Williamsburg Official History Site." Colonial Williamsburg Official History Site. Web. 18 Sept. 2011. <http://www.history.org/almanack/people/bios/biohen2.cfm>.
"Patrick Henry." Ushistory.org. Web. 18 Sept. 2011. <http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/related/henry.htm>.
Red Hill - Patrick Henry National Memorial. Web. 18 Sept. 2011. <http://www.redhill.org/biography.html>.
TeachingAmericanHistory.org -- Free Seminars and Summer Institutes for Social Studies Teachers. Web. 18 Sept. 2011. <http://www.teachingamericanhistory.com/>.